Lawn-sprinkler bearing assembly



June 28,1927. 1,633,879

G. ZINT LAWN SPRNKLER BEARING ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 8. 1926 @Rennais witness Patented June 2S, 1927.

nui-rs STATES.

GEORGE ZINT, OF WAP'AKONETA, OHIO.

LAWN-SPRINKL'ER BEARING ASSEMBLY.

Original application filed. March'S, 1926, Serial No. 93,238. Divided andthis application filed December 13, 192e. semina, 154,537.'

This application is a division ot my parent U. S. application, Serial'No. 93,238, filed March 8th,y 1926.

The invention relates to improvements in lawn sprinklers ot' the type having a sprinkling head which is movable about a vertical axis, under the influence ot operating means driven by the spray discharged from a nozzle of the head. The invention hasmore par'- ticular reference to a new and improved bearing construction for holding the sprinkler head anti-frictionally against upward movement under the torce ot the water passing through the watei conducting portions ot the sprinkler.

It is the object of the invention to provide `a simple and compact, self-lubricating, bearing construction provided with novel mean-s whereby it is protected against water which 2') might otherwise find its way thereto.

Vith the Jforegoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing, in which a vertical sectional view partly in elevation is shown, ot a sprinkler embodying my invention.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numeral 9 designates a stationary body ot hollow form to receive and conduct water trom a hose or the like, the hose connection or inlet ot this body being omitted trom the present disclosure as it forms no 'part1 of the claimed invention. Threaded into and rising from the body 9, is a tubularconnection 10 which rotatably receives a tubular neck 11 on a sprinkler head 12, this head being provided with a nozzle 13. 14 designates a. water wheel in the path of the spray from the nozzle 13, for driving suitable operating mechanism 15 t'or a worm 16, said worm being in mesh with a stationary worm gear 17 iXedly secured between the iitting 10 and the body 9. 'Ihe wheel 14, the mechanism 15 and the worm 1 6 are all suitably mounted on a carrier 18 which may rotate about the fitting 10, and the sprinkler head 12 has an appropriate' connection with said carrier so that the two must rotate in unison'.

Rotation ot' the wheel 14 causesoperation .ot the mechanism 15 to rotate the worm 16, causin the latter to travel'around the worm gear 1r, thus rotating the carrier 18 and all parts connected therewith. The parts 19 and 2() merely denote portions of reversing fill mechanism for the driving means 15. These parts and in tact all ot those so tar briefly mentioned, do 'not include details of the present invention and are merely shown and clescribed in a general way to show one application ot such invention.

A vertical rod 34, passes vertically through the body 9 and the neck 11 and has its upperv end'35 suitably secured to the sprinkler head 12, while the lower end of this rod passes rotatably through a stuiling box 36 at the lower end ot the bodyv 9, said rod projecting downwardly beyond said body. Around the projecting lower end of this rod, is a housing 37 which is preterably or cylindrical form, said housing comprising a lower, lubricant-containing section 38 ot cup-like t'orm, andan upper section 39 ot similar torm, the lower' end ot this upper section being provided with an eXtension 40 which isthreaded into the upper end ot the section 38, a gasket 40 being interposed between the twoV sections it desired.

The bottom of the upper section 39 and its extension 40 are provided with astuffmg box 41 vthrough which the rod 34 passes, and under this stuffing boX, a thrust bearing 42 surrounds'the rod and isengaged by a collar 43 thereon, said thrust` bearingbeing preferably of ball'bearing torni. Thus, all

upward thrust upon the sprinkler head 12, n

being directly imparted tothe rod 34, is resisted bythe thrust bearing 42, yet this bearing will not interfere with proper rotation of the sprinkler head and associated parts, attention being here invited to the t'act that the section 38 ot the housing 37, contains a lubricant -in which the bea-ring 42 operates.

Provision is made to prevent any water which may possibly leak `through the stutiing box 36, from entering the lower housing section 38 through th-e stutling box 41. This provision is within the Yupper housing section 39 and the latter is provid-ed with discharge openings 39 through which any water that would otherwise collect therein, may discharge. In the present showing, I provide a domelike guard 44 which is secured at the center of its top to the rod y34, the lower end. of this guard surrounding an upstanding boss 45 on the bottomr of the housing section 39. Thus, any water running down the rod 34V as tar as the guard 44, will be shed-by the latter onto the bottom of the housing section 39, vwhich section is provided with the openings 3( permitting the escape o1 such water.

The housing 37 may be connected in any desir-ed manner with the body 9. In the present showing, the upper' end o't this hous ing is received in a socket t6 in the lower end of the body aud may be held against rotation in any desi red manner. Descent. oit the entire housing 37, it will be observed, is prevented by the rod 311-, the bearing l2 and the collar 43, and it will be observed that whenever desired, the housing section 38 may be removed 'tor the purpose of replenishing its supply ot lubricant.

The novel construction shown and described has proven very etiicient and advantageous and is therefore preferably t'ol lowed. However, within the scope ot the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

l claim l. An assembly ot' the class set forth comprising a hollow liquicl-conducting body having a stu'lling bon at its lower end, a rod passing downwardly through said stuiting boX, a housing abutting the lower end ot said body and formed o't upper and lower cup-like sections detaehably connected with cach other, the upper section having an opening in its bottom through which said rod passes into the lower section, a thrust bearing within said lower section having operative connection with said rod to hold the latter against upward movement, and means within said upper cup-like housing section to prevent liquid 'trom ruiming' down the rod into the lower housing section, said upper section having an outlet for the arrested liquid.

2. An assembly of the class set forth comprising a hollow liquid-conducting body having a stuiiing box at its lower end, a rod passing lownwardly through said stuffing box, a housing abutting the low-er end ot' said neeeeve body and formed ot' upper and lower cuplilre sections detaehably connected with each other, the upper section having an opening in its bottom through which said rod passes into the lower section, a thrust bearing within said lower section having operative connection with said rod to hold the latter against upward movement, an upstanding boss` on the bottom ot said upper housing section around its opening, and a continuous guard secured to the rod within said upper section and having a portion surrounding said boss to shed any water running down the rod into said upper section, the latterl having an opening through which the arrested water may drain.

An assembly ot the class described comprising a liquid-conducting body having a stutting box at its lower end, a rod passing downwardly through said stutiing box, an upper cup-like housing section abutting the lower end ot said body, the bottom ot said upper section having a stutling box through which said rod passes downwardly, said bottom being provided also with a downward externally threaded projection, a lower cuplilre housing section threaded upon said projection and receiving the lower end ot said rod, a thrust bearing connected with the rod and disposed in said lower housing section to hold said rod against upward movement, a boss rising trom the bottom of said upper section and surrounding the rod, and a. domelike guard having the center of its top secured to said rod above said boss, said guard being disposed within said upper housing section and having its lower edge disposed around the aforesaid boss, lsaid guard serving to shedany liquid ruiming down the rod, said upper section having an opening through which such liquid may drain. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto at xed my signature.

` GEORGE ZIN T. 

